Bridge



(No Model.)

' M. KERSTEN.

BRIDGE.

v No. 308,5

atnted Nov. 25, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT Trice.

MAX KERSTEN, OF SHEPHERDSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,501, dated November 25,1884.

Application filed July 17,1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAX KERSTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shepherdsville, in the county of Bullitt and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to bridges; and it consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of a section of my bridge. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on about line at m, Fig. 2.

I make my bridge with end sections, A A,

V and middle sections, B B, the latter being jointed together at their adjacent ends and at their other ends to one of sections A. The sections B are connected at their meeting ends by a bolt, E, passed through the side bars, I), of each of them,and extending across from side to side, as shown. Both these bars I), on their under edges, are formed with dovetail slots 1'), in which fit the dovetail ends 0 of the depending bars 0 O, which project downward, as shown. The outer ends of bars 22 b are lapped alongside the bars a a of sections A A for a sufficient distance to enable the firmer fastening thereof by two or more transverse beams, D D, and these bars a a have dovetail slots 1) formed in and extended across their lower edges, similar to the slots formed in the meeting ends of bars 0, and these slots I form in the under side of the lapped bars at the joint of each section, and by extending them across and forming them in both the bars the uprights O are not only more firmly supported, butthe connection of same with the section-bars serves to better unite the latter parts, as will be understood. Cross bars or beams F are extended between the bars of the sections about midway their ends, and have secured on their extremities one end of strut-braces G, the other ends of which are secured to the lower end of the bars 0, as shown. The lower ends of the opposite bars 0 are connected by cross-bars O, as shown. Gross beams F F maybe extended from side to side of the sections in such numbers and at such points as it seems desirable and necessary to brace and strengthen the structure. The joint between the middle sections is strengthened by supplemental beams H, placed alongside and lapping the joint, and secured to the beams at its middle by the beam E and at its ends by the beams h, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2. Diagonal braces I serve to strengthen the end section, as shown, and may also be used on the middle ones when desired.

It will be seen that the several transverse beams are secured to the side bars of the sections and to the bars 0 by nuts screwthreaded on, so the parts may be readily set up and taken down. The parts are firmly braced, and a convenient simple structure is formed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A sectional bridge having the side bars of one section lapped alongside those of the adjacent sections, and provided in their lower edges with a dovetail slot or mortise extending across the said bars, and depending bars having dovetail tenons on their upper ends fitted to said slots,and having the strut-braces secured to the lower ends of said bars, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the sections B B, joined at the adjacent ends, andprovided atsuch ends with bars H, lapping the joint, and secured to the bars of section B by bolts or beams E h, the sections A having their side bars, a, lapped alongside bars I) of sections B, and secured thereto by beams D, the bars 0, having tenons O dovetailed into the lower edges of the bars of the sections, and strutbraces G, secured at one end to the lower ends of bars 0 and at their other ends to the sides of the sections, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAX KERSTEN.

Witnesses:

W. F. GRrsr, B. H. GRIsr.

-IOO 

